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Synopsis:
When
a child dies, parents and teachers are faced with a
dilemma. Should
the child’s friends and classmates be told what has
happened? How
much should they be told?
Does altering the truth protect children or harm
them?
In
this sensitive, reassuringly illustrated story, Betsy
learns of the sudden death of her friend Peter, and her
parents help her cope with the news.
Betsy wonders: Will I die, too?
Did I somehow cause the death?
Will the funeral be scary?
Will Peter be cold and lonely after he’s
buried? Later,
Betsy is able to create a special tribute to Peter and
is comforted by the knowledge that Peter will never be
forgotten.
An
introduction by Dr. Cohn discusses guidelines from
experts that answer the questions parents and teachers
may have about talking to children about death,
including how death should be explained to a very young
child, whether a child should be encouraged to go to the
funeral of a friend, and what kinds of reactions
children may exhibit.
Betsy’s
story can be shared by parents and children to help them
cope with a difficult time—and to show children that,
as Betsy learned, people may die but memories last
forever.
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